RURAL WOMEN IN ZIMBABWE USE COW DUNG AS SANITARY TOWELS

According to Sowaten Live, women from across all ages and classes of the community were invited to the gathering hosted by the Ministry of Health at Seke communal lands on Wednesday.

Due to high sanitary costs and lack of resources, Zimbabwean women make do with pieces of cloth, newspapers, fresh grass and even cow dung to absorb the flow of their monthly menstruation. - sowaten live

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This ouspicious gathering was supported by more than 130 partners worldwide, including but limited to social businesses, non- governmental organisations, advocates, campaigns and dedicated individuals. The poignant issue at hand was the integrity of a woman’s body and the dignity of menstruation.

Risitseng Rukasha, Projects Officer for the sanitary pads project,  made the following statement: "buying pads was considered a less priority by the vulnerable and poor populations who were more concerned about putting food on the table. During this period, they not only experience the characteristic abdominal pain and mood alterations, but also have to be absent from school for fear of odours emanating from newspapers and rags they use to contain their menstrual flow".

The Minister of Finance, Tendai Biti was also quoted in the Zimbabwean, explaining the high cost of pads; saying that taxing sanitary ware was necessary due to low cotton prices. Due to low capacity utilisation in the manufacturing sector, many companies have not been finding it easy to venture into manufacturing following Zimbabwe's economic decline. - sowaten live